Location: 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
If you ever watched SKY Castle, you may have wondered what ‘SKY’ meant. Very simple actually. ‘SKY’ stands for ‘Seoul – Korea – Yonsei’ that are the three best universities in South Korea (you take the first letter of each word).
Among them, Yonsei University has had the occasion to appear in numerous dramas due to its emblematic façade and architecture. I’m pretty sure you would recognize it right away too. The history of that prestigious private university started however long before its buildings became notorious.
Back in 1885, the place was erected by an American missionary to be a modern hospital where Western medicine would be practiced in Korea. It then rapidly became a medical college. Later on in 1915, another missionary created a new annex to the place named Yeonhee University in 1946 (if you have seen Cheer Up the name of the university used in the drama may ring some bells). Finally, the two schools merged in 1957 to become Yonsei University. Its emblem is the eagle, and the slogan is ‘The truth will set you free‘.
If you ever go to South Korea, you may want to visit that iconic location!
Reply 1994 (2013)
Cast: Go A Ra, Jung Woo, Yoo Yeon Seok, Kim Sung Kyun and Son Ho Jun
Plot: Set in 1994, the drama follows the life of a guesthouse’s residents named Sun Na Jung (Go A Ra), Sseureki (Jung Woo), Chilbong (Yoo Yeon Seok), Samchunpo (Kim Sung Kyun) and Haetae (Son Ho Jun), as they navigate through life, as well as political, social and cultural events, that imprinted the South Korean society.
Episodes: 21
Age of Youth 1&2 (2016&2017)
Cast: Han Ye Ri, Hang Seung Yeon, Park Eun Bin, Ryu Hwa Young, Park Hye Soo, Ji Woo and Choi A Ra
Plot: The drama follows the life of young women living in the same guesthouse and facing various life struggles: Yoon Jin Myung (Han Ye Ri), Jung Ye Eun (Han Seung Yeon), Song Ji Won (Park Eun Bin), Kang Yi Na (Ryu Hwa Young) and Yoo Eun Jae (Park Hye Soo).
Episodes: 12 (season 1) + 14 (season 2)
Romance is a Bonus Book (2019)
Cast: Lee Na Young and Lee Jong Suk
Plot: Kang Dan I (Lee Na Young) is a freshly divorced woman, who struggles to make ends meet. Seeing his childhood friend in such a tough situation, Cha Eun Ho (Lee Jong Suk) decides to let her live at his house. Meanwhile, Dan I is hired by Eun Ho’s publishing company. At work, they hide their connection, while slowly falling in love.
Episodes: 16
Extraordinary You (2019)
Cast: Kim Hye Yoon, Rowoon, Lee Jae Wook, Kim Young Dae, Lee Na Eun, Jung Gun Joo and Lee Tae Ri
Plot: Eun Dan Oh (Kim Hye Yoon) is a high school girl. She comes from a wealthy family and is supposed to get married to her childhood friend Baek Kyung (Lee Jae Wook). However, he is not interested in her and rejects her. The only reason why he is sometimes nice to her is because Dan Oh has a heart condition. One day, Dan Oh realizes that she is having many blackouts and can’t remember her full days. Later on, she finds out that she is in fact a supporting character from a manhwa (manga) and her entire world is a universe created by a mysterious writer. Alarmed by the news, Dan Oh wants to be able to write her own destiny, especially because she falls in love with another character: Ha Ru (Rowoon).
Episodes: 16
True Beauty (2020)
Cast: Cha Eun Woo, Moon Ga Young and Hwang In Yeop
Plot: Im Ju Kyung (Moon Ga Young) is a high school student constantly bullied for her appearance. Sick of hearing people’s criticisms, she starts putting make-up on. Doing so, she turns into a pretty young girl, causing her to be involved with 2 men at school: Lee Soo Ho (Cha Eun Woo) and Han Seo Joon (Hwang In Yeop).
Episodes: 16
Men are Men (2020)
Cast: Hwang Jung Eum, Yoon Hyun Min and Seo Ji Hoon
Plot: When she was a child, Seo Hyun Joo (Hwang Jung Eum) fell into a lake and was reminded of three of her past lives. In each of them, she was abandoned by her husband. Since then, she decided to never get married. One day, she meets Hwang Ji Woo (Yoon Hyun Min), who seems to know everything about her and her past lives.
Episodes: 16
When My Love Blooms (2020)
Cast: Lee Bo Young, Yu Ji Tae, Park Jin Young and Jeon So Nee
Plot: Han Jae Hyun (Yu Ji Tae/Park Jin Young) and Yoon Ji Su (Lee Bo Young/Jeon So Nee) met in the 1990s, when they were both in college. Jae Hyun studied law and Ji Su was majoring in piano. They both started to fall in love with each other because they shared common beliefs and were demonstrating for people’s rights. However, they had to take different paths because of their own life circumstances. 20 years later, they meet again and realize they still love each other.
Episodes: 16
Our Beloved Summer (2021)
Cast: Choi Woo Sik and Kim Da Mi
Plot: Choi Ung (Choi Woo Sik) and Kook Yeon Su (Kim Da Mi) met in high school. They fell in love, while filming a popular documentary. But they eventually broke up. 5 years later, they are asked to film a new documentary together. Will it rekindle the flame?
Episodes: 16
Snowdrop (2021-2022)
Cast: Jung Hae In and Jisoo
Plot: Set in 1987, a politically tumultuous time in South Korea, North Korean spy Lim Soo Ho (Jung Hae In) takes refuge at Hosu Women’s University. Covered in blood, he is rescued by South Korean student Eun Yeong Ro (Jisoo). They fall in love.
Episodes: 16
The Sound of Magic (2022)
Cast: Ji Chang Wook, Choi Sung Eun and Hwang In Yeop
Plot: Yoon A Yi (Choi Sung Eun) is a high school student, who supports her younger sibling after their parents left. Though she struggles financially, she still ranks among top students at school. Na Il Deung (Hwang In Yeop) often competes with her academically. Despite that, they get closer and start falling for each other. One day, A Yi meets magician Ri Eul (Ji Chang Wook) at an amusement park. Through magic (and magic shows) he brings comfort to A Yi.
Episodes: 6
Cheer Up (2022)
Cast: Han Ji Hyun, Bae In Hyuk, Kim Hyun Jin, Jang Gyu Ri and Lee Eun Saem
Plot: Do Hae Yi (Han Ji Hyun) is a college student, who works several jobs to support her family. One day, she decides to join the cheering squad called ‘Theia’. There, she experiences friendship, love and hard work; as well as a new kind of campus life.
Episodes: 16
Lovely Runner (2024)
Cast: Byun Woo Seok & Kim Hye Yoon
Plot: Ryu Sung Jae (Byun Woo Seok) is a top star who’s been worn out by the industry. One day, he dies from shock after taking sleeping pills. Im Sol (Kim Hye Yoon) is Sun Jae’s fan. Upon hearing the tragic news, she miraculously travels back in time to 15 years in the past and meets him as a 19-year-old student. She tries to save him.
Episodes: 16
Undercover High School (2025)
Cast: Seo Kang Joon & Jin Ki Joo
Plot: Jung Hae Seong (Seo Kang Joon) is an elite agent for the NIS. After an incident, he receives a demotion and is sent undercover in a high school to investigate the whereabouts of King Gojong’s missing gold bars. Oh Soo Ah (Jin Ki Joo) is Hae Seong’s homeroom teacher with an upright personality. She slowly starts seeing her first love in Jung Hae Seong.
Episodes: 12
Once Upon a Drama 